Animated display device



Aug. 11, 1936. A, GRQTH 2,050,568

' V ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I liggTOR.

ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1936. A. GROTH ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 %7NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Alfred Groth, Milwaukee, Wis.,

assignor to Badger Carton Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 5, 1935, Serial No. 25,071

11 Claims. (01. 40-52) This invention relates to improvements in animated display devices.

Manufacturers of certain types of merchandise have, during the past several years, been resort- 5 ing to the extensive use of display cards or display stands for placement in windows of drug stores or the like to advertise their products. The majority of these displays are of a non-animated character due to the fact that animated displays as heretofore produced, have necessarily embodied expensive and complicated motion producing mechanism and expensive electrical switches.

The present invention relates to a display device of the animated type, and it is a principal object to provide simple and inexpensive mechanism for producing an oscillatory motion, and more particularly an extremely simple and foolproof form of switch cooperating with said 20 mechanism to make and break an electrical circuit.

l A more specific object of the invention is to provide a display device having a swinging pendulum provided with a lower lateral extension 25 cooperating with a fixed solenoid to produce the desired motion, said pendulum being cooperable with a novel form of switch to cause the latter to make and break the circuit to the solenoid.

A further object of the invention is to provide 3 means within the display device carried by said movable pendulum for producing a movable beam of light, and means for so confining said beam that it will cooperate with an exteriorly visible animated display part to produce a novel exterior effect which is particularly adapted for use in advertising flash lights or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display device which is simple and durable in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, and well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device looking at the interior mech- 55 anism from the rear;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the pivot shaft looking at the switch mechanism from the rear and showing the switch 5 parts in circuit making position, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in circuit breaking position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the inner switch disc only; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fi 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a base of wood or other suitable material. A front ll of cardboard, fibre board, or the like has its lower edge suitably secured to the front edge of the base. Side pieces l2, also of cardboard, have their lower edges secured to end edges of the base, and have their side edges provided with flanges I3 which may be adhesively connected to the front l2 and to a back member M. A removable top I5 of cardboard or the like is formed with apertures l6 for the reception of extensions I! on the side members I2. The top I5 is also formed with a front cutout l8 (see Fig. 3).

The front and rear of the base I0 are recessed as at l9 (see Fig. 3) to permit a pair of up-standing supporting members 20 to have their lower ends secured to the base within said recesses as at 2|.

A shaft 22 is journaled in the back member l4 and in upper portions of the supporting members 20, and said shaft has an end projecting through an enlarged apperture 23 in the front ll of the display device. An animated display part 25 which may simulate the upper portion of the body of a small boy may be removably secured to the end of the shaft 22 by means of an angular connection member 25, which connection member has one end secured to the shaft by a nut 26 and which has its other end removably positionablein a loop 21 on the rear of the animated display part 24.

Rigidly secured on the shaft 22 adjacent the inner side of the front II is a movable screen 28 of opaque material counter-balanced with wood or the like 28 having a segmental extension 29 provided with a segmental slot 30. The slot is adapted to move from registration with one end of an opening 3| in the front of the display device to the other end of said opening. The opening 3| is covered with tissue paper or other transparent material 32.

Rigidly secured to a central portion of the shaft 22 is a pendulum 33 having a curved lower end 34, the said pendulum being formed of suitable metal. The pendulum is movable from the 5 full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dot and dash line position shown therein. When in this latter position, the curved portion 34 enters a core opening 35 in a solenoid 36, the said solenoid being suitably supported on an upright member 37.

The upper end of the pendulum projects slightly above the shaft 22 and is formed with an outwardly bent portion 38. The pendulum also has secured thereto a socket 39 for an electric light bulb 40.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will beiseenthatone of the supporting members has secured thereto, by means of a nut and bolt 4|, 2. disc 42 of fibre or the like, and the shaft- 22 extends. loosely through a central aperture in said disc 42.. The

20 disc is further formed with an electrical contact member. '43 connected. with a; projecting. contact strip 44.

A larger 'disc- 45. also of. fibrous material is rloosely positioned'oni the. shaft. 22 adjacent. the

:disc:42 asshown in1Eig:.4', andisaid disc. has-its 1 periphery cut-out as at 46.to"form.a.shoulder 41. At the other'end of .the cut out an adjustable shoulder 'lSI'DIOYidEd' through the use of a. separate adjustable member 49. The disc 45 has its. innerrside' formed. with a: metallic contact member 50 which is movable with the dis-345 froma position in: engagement with. the contact 43 of the disc 42 as shown in Fig. 4, to a position out. of: engagement therewith as shown: in: Fig. 5.

'A'conta'ct'member 50..isiconnected by. means of a. flexible: wire 51 witlrafixed binding post 52 on the supportin'gimember: 20, and from said :binding;post..52;a wire '53iextends tothe solenoid 36 (see; Fig.2). .Anotherlwire54iextendingzfrom mithezsolenoidrfl connects throughaiconductor. 55 with: a source. oizelectricalsupply and through :a; conductor: 56 with: one terminalof the electric .lightlsocket. 3'9; -llncrther wire 5'! extends from .ithe'cmitactistripir4'4zofithe disc 42l'to the source of electrical: supply, and. a .wire 58 from the other terminaliof tliezli'ghtishCketi 39 .connectsuwith the wire 51.

.In: operation" whentthe source'of current is turnedton; the'solenoid' 36 willlbev energized if the 250 disci 45E-is-;in" the; positionishown. in: Fig. 4 to bring "the; contacts; and; 43 .into engagement. This will cause the solenoid to exert a pull on the 1 curved pendulum: part 44 to move saidpendulum 'partfromthefulllineposition ofiFig. .2 to the dot andtdashiline therein: shown. When the pendurlumfis so moved;zhowever,tits:bentinner end-part 38 'which'moves inrthecut-out 46. of the disc 45 willI-shift from the position of Fig. 4to the positionofzFig. fi whereinait'strikes' against the shoulg60 der:48.to:move the disc 45 inaclock-wisedirec- 'tion, and thereby'breakthe connection between .thecontact membersSi! and 43 tov stop the flow of current to the solenoid. As soon as this occurs, curved"portion:34- of the pendulum will be released from the core opening of the solenoid and williswingzba'ck tO'IthGIfUH-HHE position. of'Fig. 2, .at which? timethe' pendulum part 38 will strike the shoulder-41 offthe disc 45 as shown'in-Fig. 4 to move.the:disc in counter-clock-wise direction '70 nto' again complete the'circuit' to the solenoid. The

result:.will benrelatively rapid oscillatory movementlof the pendulum inwhich the making and breaking of the circuit is:controlled by the simple and fool-proof 'switch" mechanism'illust'rated in Figs. 4-7.

Due to the fact that the pendulum is rigidly connected to the shaft 22, the latter will of course be oscillated to impart movement to the animated body portion 24 of the display device.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, 5 this animated body portion 24 cooperates with fixed leg portions 59 to simulate a small boy holding a flash light or the like 60, and due to the movement of the upper portion of the small boy, the flash light illustration will also be moved 10 back and forth from one end of the transparent opening 3! of the display device to the other end. The screening member 28 which is movable behind the front I! of the display device has its cut-out portion 38 so positioned as to substantiall5 ly. align with the lens part SI of the flash light illustration, and due to the fact that the animatecldisplay part 24 and the screening member are both rigidly mounted on the oscillatory shaft 22, they will move in unison as will also 20 the electriclight 40. The latter will cast a beam which is defined by the cut-out part 30 of the screening member, and said beam will therefore -move back and forth with the flash light illustration and be eflective, due to the transparent open- "25 ing Si, to perfectly simulate a beam of light cast by the flash light. The lens part SI of the flash light illustration may be formed of tissue paper so that the light will also show through said lens part. Thus the boy will bend backand forth moving theflash light with him, and the fiash light will throw a moving beam of light.

The novel motion producing mechanism and novel switch mechanism in connection therewith may obviously be used to produce motion on various types of display'devices, and the present particular display is shown only for purposes of illustration. Furthermore the use of the light ilcooperatingwith a movable screening member -41) to cast a movable beam through a transparent frontis capable of a Wide range ofuse, but is particularly applicable to advertising displays for flash lights or the'like.

Although only one form of the invention has 45 been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of' such changes and modifications have been contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an animated display device, a pendulum; asolenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid; a switch in said circuit including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc having spaced shoulders, and a second contact member carried by said disc; means in connection with said pendulum engageable with the shoulders of said oscillatory disc to alternately move the contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging;

move the disc and contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; and a movable display part driven by said pendulum.

3. In an animated display device, apendulum; a solenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid; a switch in said circuit, said switch including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc having a cut-out periphery to provide spaced shoulders, and a second contact member carried by said disc; said pendulum having a bent upper end projecting into said cut-out on the disc and engageable with said shoulders to alternately move the disc and contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; and a movable display part driven by said pendulum.

4. In an animated display device, a pendulum; a solenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid;

a switch in said circuit, said switch including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc having a cut-out periphery to provide spaced shoulders, and a second contact member carried by said disc; means in connection with the pendulum projecting into said cut-out on the disc and engageable with said shoulders to alternately move the disc and contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; and means for adjusting the position of said shoulders.

5. In an animated display device, a rock shaft journaled in said device; a pendulum having an upper portion rigidly connected to said rock shaft; a solenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid; a switch in said circuit including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc loosely mounted on said rock shaft, and a second contact member in connection with said disc; means in connection with said pendulum for actuating said disc to alternately move the contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; and a movable display part rigidly connected to said rock shaft.

6. In an animated display device, a housing having a translucent front portion, a pendulum within said housing, magnetic means for causing swinging movement of the pendulum, an exterior movable display part driven by said pendulum, an electric light movable with said pendulum within the housing, and a screening member between said light and front portion of the housing movable with said pendulum and with said movable display part, said screening member having an opening in substantial alignment with said light for causing a beam to show through the translucent front portion of the housing and to move with the movable display part.

7. In an animated display device, a housing having a translucent front portion, a pendulum within said housing, magnetic means for causing Swinging movement of the pendulum, an exterior movable display part driven by said pendulum, and an electric light movable within the housing with said pendulum for causing a beam to show through the translucent front of the housing and to move with the movable display part.

8. In an animated display device, a housing having a translucent front portion, a rock shaft journaled in said housing, a pendulum having an upper portion rigidly connected to said rock shaft, an electric light movable with said pendulum within the housing, and a screening member rigidly mounted on said rock shaft between said light and front portion of the housing, said screening member having an opening in substantial alignment with said light for causing a beam to show through the translucent front of the housing and to move with the movable display part.

9. In an animated display device, a pendulum; a solenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid; a switch in said circuit including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc having spaced shoulders, and a second contact member carried by said disc; means in connection with said pendulum engageable with the shoulders of said oscillatory disc to alternately move the contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; a movable display part driven by said pendulum, and means for adjusting the position of one of said shoulders.

10. In an animated display device, a rock shaft journaled in said device; a pendulum having an upper portion rigidly connected to said rock shaft; a solenoid for causing swinging movement of said pendulum; an electrical circuit for said solenoid; a switch in said circuit including a fixed contact member, an oscillatory disc loosely mounted on said rock shaft, and a second contact member in connection with said disc; means in connection with said pendulum for actuating said disc to alternately move the contact member carried thereby into and out of circuit making position when the pendulum is swinging; and a movable display part driven by said rock shaft.

11. In an animated display device, a housing having a translucent front portion, a pendulum within said housing, magnetic means for causing swinging movement of the pendulum, an exterior movable display part driven by said pendulum, an electric light within the housing, and a screening member between said light and front portion of the housing movable with said pendulum and with said movable display part, said screening member having an opening for causing a beam to show through the translucent front portion of the housing and to move with the movable display part.

ALFRED GROTH. 

